Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health - Final Evaluation Report

Abstract

In recognition of the role of illicit tobacco (IT) in undermining tobacco control strategies and in maintaining and encouraging tobacco use among deprived communities, the North of England Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme (the Programme) was launched in July 20091. The main aim of this pilot Programme was to increase the health of the population in three regions (North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber) through reducing smoking prevalence by (a) reducing the availability (supply) of IT, thus keeping real tobacco prices high; and (b) reducing the demand for IT by building on existing tobacco control measures. Prior to the launch of this Programme, IT was largely the responsibility of the agency, Her Majesty‟s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which focused predominantly on supply, so the Programme marked the first large-scale attempt of the health sector to reduce IT use. The UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS)2 was commissioned in September 2009 to evaluate the Programme up until March 2011. The evaluation team was multi-disciplinary and included researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Durham (including researchers from FUSE3), Stirling, Northumbria and University College London.